Posted in Whathaveyou on October 6th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
Hey, that’s what it’s all about, right? Getting out there, seeing new things, playing fuzz rock as loud as you can for as many people as there are in whatever place. That’s the dream, right? And then you stay somewhere for the night and get breakfast in the morning, take a few pics for the socials maybe if it isn’t too awkward the next day, and roll out to the next one. Good on yas, Stonus.
Weekenders, man. I wholly support that model of touring. There is precious little that says ‘I do this because I love it’ as much as someone taking an entire weekend of their life — which invariably has any number of other facets to it besides a given band — and going to play shows. Think about it for a minute. What are you willing to do for an entire weekend?
Because you go on tour for like four weeks, well, that’s not a tour anymore, it’s a lifestyle. Probably a smelly one. But to do shows like Stonus are next month, hitting new ground in France and Belgium for the first time, and then just turning around and going home, that takes heart. Commitment. Thanatos. I could go on here. Better perhaps I don’t.
They’re calling it a mini-tour of the EU, which I also love. It’s been a minute, but if you recall their 2021 LP, Séance (review here), they certainly weren’t short on charm then. Some things do not change:
STONUS – Mini EU tour Announcement️
“We are super excited to share with you our upcoming European tour dates for this fall and we can’t wait to make some new awesome experiences with you all!!!
Lets get fuzzed up!!!(#127988#)☠️(#127988#)☠️(#127988#)☠️”
15.11 Open Slot 16.11 Kinky Star – Ghent (BE)* 17.11 L’International – Paris (FR)** 19.11 Westill – Nantes (FR)
with: *High Trail (FREE ENTRANCE) **Last Quarter, Oda
Posted in Questionnaire on February 10th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: Nicky Ray from Stonus
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
First of all thank you for this interview and this opportunity.
Since young kids me and my brother Kyriacos (lead singer) always felt the pull to create music and thus it all started from our bedroom to where it is now and who knows where it will go. Personally I am not a musician but a chemical engineer, although that’s another story… From a young age I was always attracted to music, poetry and art and I constantly felt the urge to create. With time, me and my brother started sharing our creations and along the way we found the rest of the group, Kotsios, Pavlos and Alaa, and formed STONUS which gives us the opportunity to not only create our own material but also share it around in stages all over Europe. In reality we are just five friends jamming around and creating music which by the end of the day is living our childhood dreams and we have to thank all of our supporters and the heavy rock community for allowing this to happen.
Describe your first musical memory.
My first musical memory, that at least I can remember, is finding this old CD player at my parents’ house at the age of 10 together with a dusty CD of Elton John’s “Sleeping with the past” that I kept playing on repeat every night for a whole year! That’s when I truly realized the power of music and the impact it can have on people and since then, I am in constant exploration.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
The best musical memory so far is having the opportunity to tour Europe for the first time with STONUS last September/October. It was a dream come true, especially coming from a small island in the Mediterranean where the chances of playing abroad are extremely low. Nevertheless, we are here to prove that people can achieve their dreams no matter how hard it is, as long as they believe in their selves and they are willing to give everything they’ve got.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
When you are on the journey to achieve something, often obstacles tend to appear to test your will and endurance. For example back in the day, we were invited to take part in a unity event for peace in Cyprus, which is still a divided country unfortunately. Since as individuals we believe in equal human rights we decided that it was right to play the gig although it was emotionally heavy as most of our families are refugees of the same war that caused this division of the island.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
I feel that artistic progression leads to beauty and completeness. The ability to translate your feelings and emotions into art is kind of an alchemy and it requires skill and intuition to put the pieces together.
How do you define success?
Success is being able to do what you love freely, being able to be who you truly are and waking up every day with a smile on your face.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
When I was still an undergraduate at a university, after a club night, I was in the unfortunate position to see a student getting run over by a car and dying. This was one of the strongest experiences that occurred to me and made me realize that every moment is precious and needs to be cherished because you never know if you will be here on the next.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
Our new album! We are actually in the process of writing the first drafts and we are more than excited to see how this new side of our selves looks like.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Art has several functions such as to entertain, to uplift and emotionally support and to even start a revolution if necessary. What I believe, is that art is a form of language, a collective of signals and symbols coming from the core of the universe to enter our subconscious. By translating these signals into artistic creations we allow the universe to experience its own “thoughts” guiding us to the single purpose of unity and bliss, evolving us along the way.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Since outside music I am an engineer, in the renewable energy field; I am really looking forward to see how these new technologies will unfold in a try to make earth a more sustainable and supporting place. Personally it is another dream coming true, seeing people uniting and fighting for a single goal, to save the planet…and who knows maybe it is the start of a new era in society where love could finally replace greed.
To whoever is reading I want to thank you for your time and wish you success in your dreams and of course keep being heavy!
Posted in audiObelisk on March 23rd, 2021 by JJ Koczan
Cyprus rockers Stonus will release their new three-song EP, Séance, this Friday, March 26, on Electric Valley Records. Actually, I’m not about to commit 100 percent to that geography since they’re recording in Cyprus (maybe they went back? I don’t know), but wherever they are, Stonus follow-up their 2020 debut album, Aphasia, with this third EP release that takes a mere 18 minutes out of your day and rewards with vibrant heavy fuzz and spacey push. In “Evil Woman,” “Messianism” and “El Rata,” the five-piece’s sound is only suited to its live recording process, and there’s a palpable flow between the tracks that comes through despite the EP format. That is, cuts are individualized, they’d work on their own as singles, but there’s plenty of fluidity tying them together as well.
Channeling their inner mid-period Monster Magnet, they start with “Evil Woman” and shift easily into “Messianism” before the willfully chuggier and more aggressive “El Rata,” bringing Mediterranean folk elements along for the ride into the farther-out. “Evil Woman” brakes from its thrust in its midsection with Kyriakos Frangoulis‘ vocals no less a part of the swirl than the guitars of Pavlos Demetriou and Nicky Ray (the latter also bass), who bring the riff back around circa 4:20 and are joined by drummer Kotsios Demetriades for the renewed push that culminates, underscoring the songwriting that lurks beneath the wash. “Messianism” pulls its riff early with some spoken word and drumroll for an intro. I haven’t seen a lyric sheet but there’s certainly plenty of subject matter around which they might explore the title’s theme, and they do so in a range shortly under seven minutes that’s engaging and adventurous in kind, whispers dug into the mix, room for rhythmic changes and a progressivism that, if nothing else, speaks to the obvious craft gone into putting these tracks together before they hit the studio to play them live. These are not half-baked pandemic-era tossoffs, and this is not a band without purpose.
Weightier thud and more spacious reach collide in the second half of “Messianism,” and it becomes no mystery why the band positioned it as the centerpiece of the outing. Is that a plugged-in tzouras (like a bouzouki, but smaller) I hear, or a guitar with effects? No clue, but that’s part of the fun as the second of three hits its peak and subsequently rumbles to its close. “El Rata” rounds out with Stonus‘ most effective heavy psychedelic elemental blend, bringing the heft of the prior cut and the wash of the opener together in succinct and deceptively efficient fashion until its long fade leads the way into whatever beyond the band are heading toward. In an uncool universe, these songs wear sunglasses at night, and for those who slept on the LP last year (like me), they represent a hand of outreach on the part of the band, bidding warm welcome as they chart their particular course through the void. It’s not too late to get on board.
So be it. If you think you’re up for what Stonus are delivering throughout Séance, to be honest, you’re probably right. There’s a bit of preaching to the converted, but that doesn’t make their communication with the ethereal any less switched on. They’re willing to leave the world behind for 18 minutes. Maybe you are too.
Séance is streaming in its entirety below, and under the player you’ll find preorder and bundle info.
Enjoy:
We are proud to announce that the Pre-orders of our new EP “Séance” are now Live! Pressed on a 140g Side A Black Vinyl/side B picture Disk including a poster, all designed by Petros Voulgaris / Design, Illustration & Screenprinting ??
‘Seance’ is the 3rd EP of the Cypriot Heavy Rock band Stonus, a fully analogue 18:24 minute EP recorded live at Hot Soap Studios in Larnaca, Cyprus under the supervision of Andreas Matteou and mastered by George Leodis. The delicate artwork, perfectly translating the visualisation of Seance was crafted by Petros Voulgaris.
In this trip, Stonus take a more experimental approach seeking into tradition, experiencing folk sounds, gypsy sceneries and expose themselves into the darkest side of nature. In some parts they are raw and heavy, while in others lost in a psychedelic trance, filled with roaring basslines, heavy riffs and dreamy melodies, always bloodthirsty for revolution and change. Whether you’re bound by the evil chains of pretentious love, feeling disconnected from your dreams or being chained to the system, Seance is a kind reminder that you are not alone…
-35 x “The Ritual Bundle” Signed Vinyl, Séance T-shirt available in Red, Gray and White, poster, stickers and an ultra-limited edition Séance card oracle deck and a game board delicately hand-drawn by Rafael Marquetto with garments designed by the young talented designers Eleni Oronti and Apocahlipse
-35 x “Evil Woman Bundle” Signed Vinyl & Evil Woman T-shirt Bundle. Includes poster and sticker
-10 x “Mystery Bundle” Seance and Aphasia signed Vinyls, random T-shirt, poster and stickers
It was a hard year for all of us, away from gigs, bars, friends and family and we are hoping that our music helped you pass through some of those hard times the same way your warm support and love keeps us alive!
